Buying a home with solar panels: what to check

A home with solar panels can look more efficient, more modern and cheaper to run. But before the CPCV, the right question is not only "does it have panels?". It is: "who owns the system, is it registered, will it transfer to me, and does it work as advertised?".

The buyer may be inheriting a UPAC, inverter, batteries, warranties, surplus sale contracts, app accounts, roof works and, in an apartment, condominium permissions. All of that should be clear before paying the deposit.

Solar panels are not automatic value

A well-documented system can reduce grid consumption, improve comfort and help explain a better energy rating. But it may also be old, badly sized, shaded, poorly matched to the household's daytime use, or dependent on an app and contracts still in the seller's name.

Ask for real data: electricity bills, inverter production history, installed power, orientation, equipment age, maintenance and warranties. Without that, "has solar" is only a listing phrase.

Documents to request before the CPCV

For self-consumption, DGEG uses specific procedures for UPAC registration and changes. Some smaller systems use prior communication; others involve registration, certificates, fees or extra steps. Do not guess from the number of panels on the roof.

If a document does not exist, ask why in writing. It may be harmless, but it can also show that the system is not regularised, does not belong to the seller or will not transfer as expected.

Transfer does not happen only through the deed

The deed transfers ownership of the property. It does not, by itself, guarantee that the UPAC, app account, electricity contract, inverter warranty or surplus sale arrangement automatically pass to the buyer.

Agree with the seller who handles each step and by when. If the system is an important part of the price, do not leave this to informal emails after completion.

In an apartment, look at the roof first

In apartment buildings, panels may be on a common part. They may serve one unit, the condominium, some owners or a collective self-consumption scheme. That changes the question completely.

Ask for condominium minutes, permission to use the roof, internal rules, EGAC details where collective self-consumption exists, sharing coefficients, insurance, maintenance responsibility and rules when a unit is sold.

Also confirm who pays if panels must be removed for roof repairs, leak fixes or common works.

Get a technical inspection if the value is material

Not every risk appears in the paperwork. An electrician, solar technician, engineer or architect can check points a buyer usually cannot evaluate.

If the inspection shows the system is worth less than advertised, you can renegotiate price, request repairs, require documents or walk away before the deposit is at risk.

How to protect yourself in the CPCV

When the panels matter to the decision, the CPCV should treat the system as part of the purchase, not as decoration.

Do not use these ideas as drafting. Use them as topics for your lawyer or solicitor to adapt to the specific case.

Next step

Before signing the CPCV, request the solar document pack, confirm holder/CPE and book a technical check if the system affects the price. If an answer is essential, turn it into a written condition.